Year: 2023

Meet Alice Scarbrough, the Department of Communication’s Student Services Coordinator.

Alice started working for the Department of Communication in May 2023. 

As the Student Services Coordinator, her role is to build out the schedule for semesters, help with student questions, course requests, and any work with the undergraduate coordinator, Dr. Lori Pindar,  along with the departmental advisor for both major programs, Ms. Kaela Gardner.

Alice is originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where her parents own a local variety shop that sells books and gifts. Alice graduated from Winona State University with a B.A. last December and moved to South Carolina two months later. Her goal was to work at Clemson because she had visited the campus a few times before as her partner had family there, and quickly fell in love with how welcoming everyone was!

Prior to working at Clemson University, Alice worked a full-time job at a social services agency for two years. The agency provided Safe Visitation services and programs for children and their families who have been separated due to Child Protection Services intervention. Alice was part-time for one year as a Monitor and Tracker, and was then promoted to the full-time role of Safe Visitation Supervisor for her second year while being a full-time student. Alice’s mentor was the supervisor prior to her, who encouraged her to apply to the position as she transitioned into a different role. This role helped her with her professional development and she learned valuable time management skills. “It’s very important to prioritize certain things so that you can be the best version of yourself,” she emphasized.

In her prior role  she met her most impactful mentor that she notes was there for her in every way. Her mentor wanted her to succeed and answered any questions that Alice had. The best lesson that Alice learned from her mentor was to not be afraid to ask questions, as they will help further your career.

Alice maintains a healthy work-life balance by making sure to get everything done that she needs to do for the day before planning out time for herself. She also makes sure to know when to say no to things that she doesn’t necessarily have time for. Her only challenges thus far at work have been getting to know everything that she needs to know for the job, however, with such welcoming co-workers, she has been able to learn quickly!

If you’re ever looking for Alice, you can find her in her office at Strode 401!

How to find us online:

LinkedIn: Department of Communication-Clemson University

YouTube: ClemsonCOMMChannel

Instagram: @Clemson_Comm

Twitter: @ClemsonCOMM

Facebook. @ClemsonCOMM

Online: www.clemson.edu/communication

Meet Carrie Watkins, the Department of Communication’s Office Manager and Assistant to the Chair. 

Carrie started working for the Department of Communication in August 2023.

As the Office Manager, her role is to know all of the ins and outs of the department, deal with time cards and paychecks and to help with the hiring process for faculty, staff, and students.

As Assistant to the Chair, her role is to help the Chair out with anything they need–and while it usually requires  scheduling meetings or signing/filling out paperwork, Carrie also keeps a pulse on the department and its people, cultivating an open, friendly, and productive environment for everyone.

Prior to joining Clemson University, Carrie owned two businesses– a Women’s Boutique and a Dance Studio! Carrie’s mentor, Marcie Cope, ran the Dance Studio before her. Carrie credits Marcie with teaching her how to be personable with people and how to run a business.

In the time between owning a business and joining the department, Carrie took some time off to be a mother of two beautiful children. She re-entered the workforce in a part-time banking role  which helped her with the transition from motherhood to her now full-time job at Clemson.

Carrie emphasizes that in your early 20’s, you may have no idea where you are going to end up career wise. In fact, Carrie went to school for medical assisting, but quickly realized during her clinicals that this was not for her. Her decade’s worth of experience running two businesses showed her that she greatly prefers working in an office environment.

If you’re ever looking for Carrie, you can find her in her office at Strode 408, which is decorated delightfully! Stop by to say hello and know that you’ll definitely leave with a smile.

How to find us online:

LinkedIn: Department of Communication-Clemson University

YouTube: ClemsonCOMMChannel

Instagram: @Clemson_Comm

Twitter: @ClemsonCOMM

Facebook. @ClemsonCOMM

Online: www.clemson.edu/communication

With a new semester and academic year ahead of us we are so ecstatic to be assisting the Department of Communication as media interns! To learn more about us as interns and Clemson students read below:

Lindsay Kaine

Where are you from?

Vienna, Virginia (outside of Washington D.C)

What grade are you in?

Junior 

Why did you choose Clemson?

I wanted a change of pace and have always had family in South Carolina so I decided to take a leap of faith and go out of state! I have loved my time as a Tiger and am so glad I found the school for me.

What is your major and why are you interested in that field? 

I am an English major with a communication minor and I am interested in these fields because I have a passion for writing and content creation and I feel that by pursuing these degrees I can learn how to apply what I already love doing to a career.

What has been your favorite memory as a Clemson Tiger so far?

Running down the hill after the final home football game of my freshman year. We had just beat Wake Forest and it was my first time being able to run to the field with all of my friends and classmates. 

What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming freshman?

Get involved in as much as you can! College is such a great place to try new things and meet new people so get yourself outside of your comfort zone. 

What is your favorite spot-on campus?

The Tiger Media center in Hendrix! Since joining The Tiger newspaper it has become my home away from home. 

What was your summer anthem?

Karma by Taylor Swift

Sophia Wilkins

Where are you from?

Scotch Plains, NJ

What year are you?

 Senior 😭

Why did you choose Clemson?

I chose Clemson because my english teacher convinced me to apply and visit as she thought it would be a good fit for me. The second I stepped foot on campus i fell in love with it and knew this was the place for me!

What is your major and why are you interested in that field? 

I’m a communication major. I’m interested in this field because it is so broad and there are so many different career paths that I can take with it which I need because I am indecisive.

What has been your favorite memory as a Clemson Tiger so far?

My favorite memory as a Clemson Tiger so far has to be all of the home game days. The environment and energy is unmatched to anything else ive ever experienced and it just makes me so happy!

What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming freshmen?

I would tell incoming freshmen to not pass up any opportunities even if they are scared to do 

something/feel unqualified. The truth is everyone feels unqualified until they take that leap and throw themselves into it.

What is your favorite spot-on campus?

My favorite spot on campus is the amphitheater- i like to sit in the sun there in between classes

What was your summer anthem?

My anthem of the summer was Bad Memories by Meduza!

Izzy Klett

Where are you from?

Chicago, Illinois 

What year are you?

Senior 

Why did you choose Clemson?I chose Clemson because of the family aspect it gave me when i visited, everyone is very nice

What is your major and why are you interested in that field?My major is sociology and I am interested in it because it helps me better understand humans which can help for many different career paths.

What advice would you give incoming freshmen?The advice i would give an incoming freshman is to take advantage of all the amazing opportunities that Clemson offers

What is your favorite spot on campus?

My favorite spot on campus is the rowing Dike, I love to go on runs there at sunset or go swim

What was your song of the summer? 

Soweto by Victony, Rema, and Don Toliver

Now that you you’ve gotten to know us we can’t wait to get to know you! 

How to find us online:

LinkedIn: Department of Communication-Clemson University

YouTube: ClemsonCOMMChannel

Instagram: @Clemson_Comm

Twitter: @ClemsonCOMM

Facebook. @ClemsonCOMM

Online: www.clemson.edu/communication

College students often feel overwhelmed and overworked by the pressures of campus life. As we dive deeper into the semester it is easy to forget about self-care and become distracted by the stressors of daily life. One of the best things anyone can do (and the thing that is often hardest to do) is to invest time and energy into yourself. 

Spring break is a great time to relax and reset. As we go into break and the last half of the semester, take note of the following self-care and stress management strategies that will help keep you grounded throughout the day, weeks, and months:

Get outside There’s nothing better than some fresh air and sunshine to clear your head and brighten your day. We are stuck in the classroom for a good portion of the day so be sure to change the scenery! Studying outdoors is a great way to make your day a little more tolerable. The next time you begin to feel overwhelmed, take advantage of the South Carolina sunshine and step outside to reset. 

Exercise Moving your body is a great way to release stress. Exercise is an opportunity to care for yourself both physically and mentally. Find your favorite way to move your body and have fun with it! Take your dog on a walk, play tennis with a friend, or go on a hike. When it comes to exercise the options are endless and so are the benefits! 

Spend time with a friend Spending quality time with people in your support system is a great way to ease your stress. Squeezing a quick coffee date or phone call into a busy day, or setting an entire day aside to hang with a friend can be just what you need to decompress from your busy life.  

Write it down Grab a journal and pen and start writing it out, good or bad. Getting your thoughts out on paper will help you sort them out in a healthy way and can serve as a benchmark to look back on. A journal is a great tool for you to calm and organize their thoughts, especially when you have a lot going on. 

Go on a drive, walk or run, and listen to your favorite songs Music is a powerful tool that can help motivate you in many ways. Create a playlist that brings you joy and elevates your day. Listen to it on the way to class, on a run, or in your car. This is a sure way to help boost your mood or ease some stress from your day. 

Get creative Creativity looks different to different people. Outlets to express your creativity include cooking, drawing, dancing, taking pictures, or even just picking out an outfit that makes you feel great. Whatever it is, getting creative and expressing yourself is a great form of self-care that helps relieve stress. 

SmileAnd finally… Smile! It sounds silly, but smiling is actually proven to help reduce the intensity of stress on the body (www.smithsonianmag.com). 

I hope this list inspires you to find balance in your life and take some well-deserved time for yourself. It is so important! 

–Grace Hanratty

Campus Resources: https://www.clemson.edu/studentaffairs/find-support/shs/resources/suicide-prevention/resources.html

1. Dress up in Valentine’s Day PJs and go to the Movie Theater with your girls!
2. Go get your nails done with the girls! Galentine’s Day themed of course. 
3. Go to Downtown Greenville for a Girl’s Night Out! Dress in your favorite shades of pink and red and go to your favorite restaurant. 
4. Have a Galentine’s Day Brunch with the girls! Make your favorite breakfast foods but with a twist of love! Heart-shaped waffles, chocolate-covered strawberries, donuts, heart-shaped bacon, and so much more! 
5. Have a Pizza Party with your Gal Pals but this time shape the Pizzas into hearts! Bring all your favorite toppings and have a blast! 
6. Mocktails & Art! Everyone bring a canvas and your favorite drink & get creative! Another option is to go to The Brushed Canvas in Clemson. They provide a relaxing atmosphere so you leave with fun memories and a piece of art you proudly display. The Brushed Canvas provides hands-on art instruction, paint supplies, canvases, aprons…everything you need to have a great time and create your masterpiece with your Girls! 
7. Picnic on Bowman Field! Stop by Your Pie to pick up individual pizzas and have a lovely evening picnic at one of the best spots on campus. 
8. Go Ax Throwing with the girls at Stump House Axe Throwing in Downtown Clemson! 
9. Go to a workout or Yoga Studio with the Girls! Sign up for a class and get your sweat on! No better way to start or end the day! The Yoga Therapy Bar is one of the best studios in Clemson! Afterward, you and the girls could stop by Cocobowlz for a post-workout pick-me-up!
10. Grab your Girls and Head to the Snow Family Outdoor Fitness and Wellness Complex for a bonfire and sunset extravaganza!

– Hannah Hayes, Communication Intern

National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a celebration of the power of sport that takes place every year in the first week of February. On this day we honor how far we have come and where we are headed in the ongoing effort to provide equal opportunities for females in sport. 

Women and girls fought a long, hard battle to get where we are today in the world of athletics. There was once a time where females were restricted from sport. Some people in positions of authority created social barriers, claiming sport damaged femininity. They spread false ideas that such intense activity would be damaging to female health. With no options for play at school or at home, girls were missing out on massive opportunities that their male counterparts were getting to experience and grow from on a daily basis. With the help of professional female athlete trail blazers, women and girls recognized the missed opportunities and fought hard for change. They demanded equal treatment in areas ranging from access to participation in sporting events to equal pay in the professional sports world.  The work wasn’t easy and it took high levels of sacrifice, but without it, women and girls would not have the sporting opportunities we do today.

Now that you have a little background on what we celebrate in early February, I want to tell a story about an experience I had that opened my eyes to the importance of sport for young girls and women alike. Last week, I was given the opportunity to participate in the day in a unique way. I mentored young girls and boys at Clemson’s Girls and Women in Sports Day event on campus. Female Clemson athletes interacted with children from the community through our shared love of sports. My teammates and I organized relay races between the kids, with an emphasis on sportsmanship. During the first race of the day, a young girl wearing a Clemson bow led her team to a first place finish by just a few steps. Her team cheered in celebration, and as the group moved on to their next station, I watched as she looked down and flexed her bicep, acknowledging how strong she felt. To me, that moment truly summed up what the celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day is all about. Sport influences girls to build confidence, discover their strengths, and develop into powerful women. It is important we recognize and celebrate the power sport has and how far we have come as females in the sports world. Girls and Women In Sports Day has taught me that sport is bigger than just the games we play and it is an inspirational tool for our youth.

So how can you support girls and women in sport? Go to a women’s sporting event! Clemson has eleven women’s sports teams, with the newest additions of gymnastics and lacrosse. Come to a game or meet, cheer on the Lady Tigers, and help us celebrate the accomplishments of women in sport!  

– Grace Hanratty, Communication Intern

Check out the Lady Tigers Here: https://clemsontigers.com

In your twenties you might find yourself finishing college, starting your own business, getting engaged, moving to a new city, or maybe you’re going through heartbreak as I did. What you thought was the love of your life in college decided to end things only a few months before graduation. However, from experience, I’m here to tell you it will be okay. Even when that small voice in your head can’t help but feel jealous about the love that everyone talks about, the love that lasts, the love that never leaves when things get hard, every day a small part of you forgets what it was like to feel loved by that person. The person that you once loved is a stranger now and the love you shared is only but a distant memory. You might feel as if that person has died and that’s okay. In fact, it is normal. You are grieving. If anything you should be more worried if you didn’t grieve. Grieving is a natural process after any kind of loss. It helps one’s brain adjust to your new reality. Avoiding grief can keep you stuck in feelings of sadness, loneliness, guilt, shame, and anger — which can take a big toll on your self-esteem. 

 A breakup can be a difficult and painful experience, leaving you feeling lost and unsure of who you are. It can be easy to lose sight of yourself and your sense of self in the midst of the pain and confusion. However, it is important to remember that a breakup does not define you and that you can regain your sense of self through reflection, self-care, and the support of the people you love. 

• `Remember who you were before the Relationship 

One way to remember who you are post-breakup is to reflect on who you were and what you did before you met your ex. You had your own interests, hobbies, and passions that made you happy and fulfilled. By taking the time to remember these things and re-engage in them, you can rediscover yourself and what you truly enjoy. This can help you reconnect with your sense of self and find meaning and purpose in your life again.

• Spend Time Alone 

Another way to remember who you are post-breakup is to spend time alone. Being alone with your thoughts and feelings can be daunting, but it is also an opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you truly want. By being present and enjoying each day and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, you can begin to understand yourself better and come to a deeper understanding of your values and needs.

• Build a Support Network

In addition to reflection and spending time alone, it is important to build a support network. Surrounding yourself with friends and family who will support and encourage you can help you to feel less alone and more understood. They can provide a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, and a sense of perspective that can be invaluable during this difficult time. I think this is one thing that helped me the most while going through my breakup. Hanging out with your girls enjoying the single life and having the freedom to become whoever you want is so vitally important.  

• Set Healthy Boundaries

Moreover, setting healthy boundaries for yourself and others can also help you to regain control of your life and remember who you are. This can involve setting limits on contact with your ex, protecting your time and energy, and being assertive in communicating your needs and wants. One of my favorite pieces of advice is “Don’t let a man tell you twice that he doesn’t want you”. Trust me when I say there will be someone out there that you won’t have to beg to love you.

• Have Compassion for Yourself and Love Who You Are

Finally, practicing self-compassion is important in remembering who you are post-breakup. Being kind and understanding with yourself, rather than being too hard on yourself, can help you to navigate the difficult emotions and experiences that come with a breakup. All in all, remembering who you are post-breakup can be a challenging and time-consuming process. Even if you see people getting engaged on social media, having that Pinterest dream board wedding, or having a family, remember that everyone has a different timeline. You will have your time when you’re ready. Through reflecting on the past, spending time alone, building a support network, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing self-compassion, you can regain your sense of self and come out of the experience stronger and more self-aware. This time of reflection will allow your heart to love again. It’s important to be patient with yourself and not rush the process of healing. Learn to love you. Once you do that, everything will fall into place.

With the spring season approaching, we are ecstatic to introduce ourselves to you all! Below, you will find a few questions that we answered so that you can learn a little bit more about us.

Meet Hannah, Grace, and Sophia:

Hannah:

Hannah is from Tennessee, with a Language International Health major and a Sociology minor.

Why did you choose Clemson?

I chose to go to Clemson because as soon as I stepped on campus I felt at home. Everyone here is so supportive and family oriented. Additionally, as a student athlete I absolutely fell in love with the athletic facilities and coaching staff! 

What is your major and why are you interested in that field?

My major is language international health with an emphasis in health administration. I chose this field because I have a heart for healthcare and would love to pursue something in Medical Sales. 

If you had to pick one place to vacation, where would you go and why?

I would love to travel to Bora Bora one day. It has been on my bucket list for a very long time. While I’m there I would love to stay in an overwater villa and swim with dolphins. 

What is one piece of advice that you would give to an incoming freshman?

Always live in the moment, don’t wish college away. Things might seem overwhelming and school will be hard. However, 4 years will fly by and next thing you know you’re walking across the stage with your diploma in your hand. 

Grace:

Grace is from Connecticut, with a Sociology major, Communication minor and an Athletic Leadership minor.

Why did you choose Clemson?

I chose Clemson because I had the opportunity to represent the University on the track and field and cross country teams. After being here for the past three years I have grown to love every part of this school!

What is your major and why are you interested in that field?

I am currently a sociology major with minors in communication and athletic leadership. I am interested in this because I am a people person and love to be creative! 

If you had to pick one place to vacation, where would you go and why?

I would love to visit Australia one day. My dad lived there for a year after college and I have always wanted to see the beaches and wildlife for myself. 

What is one piece of advice that you would give to an incoming freshman?

I would tell incoming freshmen to “say yes”. Take advantage of every opportunity over the next four years even if it scares you, that is the best way to grow and learn.

Sophia:

Sophia is from New Jersey, with a Communication major and a Brand Communications minor.

Why did you choose Clemson?

As I am from New Jersey, Clemson was not on my radar until my English teacher recommended it to me. She said that she couldn’t see me anywhere else, and convinced me to apply. The second I visited, I realized that it was the place for me.

What is your major and why are you interested in that field?

I am a Communication major, and I am interested in it because I am very outgoing and love bringing in my own creative ideas!

If you had to pick one place to vacation, where would you go and why?

I would go to Italy because I am Italian and would love to go learn the language better. I also would love to try the food because I’m sure it is amazing.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to an incoming freshman?

I would tell them to never stop putting themselves out there, even if they are scared. Taking risks is essential to this major and has made me do things that I never thought I could do!

Now that you’ve learned a little bit more about us, we hope that you can enjoy our content a little bit more! Stay tuned to see our Intern Insights throughout the semester 🙂

Connect with us on our socials!

LinkedIn: Department of Communication-Clemson University

YouTube: ClemsonCOMMChannel

Instagram: @Clemson_Comm

Twitter: @ClemsonCOMM

Facebook. @ClemsonCOMM

Online: www.clemson.edu/communication